A MAJOR shake-up of local government could see many West Midland authorities abolished.

A MAJOR shake-up of local government could see many West Midland authorities abolished.

David Miliband, the minister responsible for local government, is to visit the region to consider a revolution in local services and is looking at abolishing up to 24 of its district councils.

Cities such as Birmingham have only one council - a unitary authority - but Worcestershire and Staffordshire have a county council as well as district councils.

Ministers believe the twotier structure is inefficient and confusing for residents.

Mr Miliband is considering creating unitary authorities in every part of the country.

But he has organised a series of summits with council leaders, business leaders and residents, to hear their views before taking the plans further.

Eight meetings have been organised nationwide, and the first in the West Midlands is scheduled to take place at Shrewsbury.

Mr Miliband is also considering reforms to the way cities such as Birmingham are run, including the idea of a "city region" to ensure greater cooperation between Birmingham, Solihull, Coventry and the Black Country authorities Wolverhampton, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall.

He is also encouraging cities to consider electing mayors, to provide a high-profile public figurehead.

Mr Miliband said: "Government is determined to create a strong and sustainable role for local government with selfconfident councils that lead and empower their communities and work with others to deliver high quality public services."